Heartland 4-H Rodeo and Ambassador 2019 contest

The 2019 Heartland 4-H Rodeo Ambassador contest will begin today with speeches and interviews at 5:30 p.m. at Ryan’s Hangar, with the horsemanship contest to follow at the Heartland 4-H Rodeo Arena.
Crowning will be on Saturday morning during the rodeo. Rodeos are planned Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. There is no admission and everyone is invited to watch the youth from across S.D. compete for qualification to the State 4-H Rodeo.
The Senior Ambassador that is chosen goes on  to compete at the State 4-H Rodeo in August in Fort Pierre. The Senior contestants will get a chance to compete for many prizes including a scholarship and saddle to name a few.
This contest helps prepare young women for important interviewing and speaking skills that they can use as they grow and become successful in communities. The Ambassador contest is a great way for youth to support the sport of rodeo, help in their community and learn to be a good role model for others.
A thank you is extended to Ryan’s Hangar, which is sponsoring the luncheon for contestants during the speeches and interview, to Rainbow Flower Shop for the bouquets, Kustom Klassics for the Senior Ambassador Buckle, Avail Wealth Management for the Junior Ambassador Buckle, Tschetter Hohm Clinic and the Anderson Family for the crowns, Kip and Shirley Bowden for the Horsemanship Awards, Williams Arena for Miss Congeniality, Double D Western Wear for first runner-up, and Boss Boutique for second runner-up.
The following Junior and Senior Rodeo Ambassador contestants were accidentally omitted from an article that was printed in Thursday’s edition.
Senior contestants:
• Jamie Bergeson, 16, is the daughter of Marlyn and Laurie Bergeson of Hartford, where she is a junior in high school. She will be competing in breakaway, goats, ribbon roping and poles. Bergeson has been in 4-H and taking part in 4-H Rodeo since she was 8. In high school she is active in soccer, gymnastics, cheer, FFA and band.
• Victoria Buffington, 14, is the daughter of Teresa and Todd Keleher of Huron. She is a freshman at Huron High School, and will be competing in barrels, poles and goat tying.
She has been a member of Prairie Wranglers 4-H Club for five years, and is involved in special foods, shooting sports, 4-H Rodeo, Little Britches, S.D. Junior High School and National Junior High School Rodeos.
In high school she is involved in varsity cross country, track, marching band, vocal, orchestra, honor roll and swim team. She enjoys being with her friends, kayaking and watching movies.

Junior contestants:
• Jencie Rae Goergen, 11, is the daughter of Stacy and Amy Goergen of Huron. She will be entering sixth grade at Huron Middle School.
Goergen will be competing in goat tying and breakaway in this weekend’s rodeos. She has been in 4-H rodeo for two years, and won the Aberdeen Ambassador Contest last year.
She enjoys softball, volleyball, basketball, dance, riding horses and hanging out with her friends.
• Brooklyn Coughlin, 11, is the daughter of Tabitha and Scott Coughlin of De Smet, where she is in middle school.
She is entered in barrels, poles and goat tying. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, riding bike, basketball, and spending time with her friends and her horse.
• Kayeleigh Bowden, 13, is the daughter of Teresa and Todd Keleher of Huron. She is in eighth grade at Huron Middle School.
She will be competing in barrels, poles and goat tying.
Bowden has been a member of Prairie Wranglers 4-H Club for five years, and has taken part in 4-H Rodeo for the past four years. She has also competed in Little Britches Rodeo, S.D. Junior High School Rodeo, National Junior High School Rodeo and in shooting sports.
She is involved in cross country, track, marching band, vocal, honor roll and swim team. She enjoys running, swimming and being with friends.

Also competing in the Junior and Senior Ambassador contest, who were pictured in Thursday’s edition, are:
Junior Contestants:
• Kyley Foreman, 10, daughter of Travis and Kosandra Foreman of Miller, who will compete in barrel racing, goat tying and pole bending.
• Ramsey Fouberg, 8, daughter of Jen and Denny Fouberg of Madison, is embarking on her first year in 4-H Rodeo and will compete in barrels, poles and goat tying.
• Hudson Fouberg, 10, daughter of Jen and Danny Fouberg of Madison, will be competing in barrels, poles and goat tying.
• Destiny Four Horns, 10, whose guardian is Sylvia Holmstrom of Clark, will be competing in barrel racing and pole bending at this year’s event.
• Mia Holmstrom, 10, is the daughter of Ray Holmstrom and Maggie Louris of Apple Valley, Minn. She will be competing in barrel racing and pole bending.
• Keeleigh Elwood, 14, daughter of Danny Elwood and April Reis of Reliance, will compete in breakaway, barrels, poles and goat tying.

Senior contestants:
• Danci Dunkelberger, 16, daughter of Cody and Dixie Dunkelberger of Huron, will be competing in breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending and team roping.
• Addyson Wittenbel, 16, daughter of Barrett and Peggy Wittenbel of Castlewood, will be competing in barrels, poles, breakaway and ribbon roping.
• Madison Kontz, 17, is the daughter of Brad and Kelly Kontz of Flandreau. She will be competing in breakaway, goat tying, team roping and pole bending.